Black America Pageant Official Withdraws Suit Against Tyson

Sports this morning - Sunrise headliners

December 19, 1991

PHILADELPHIA — The founder of the Miss Black America Pageant dropped a $607 million lawsuit against Mike Tyson on Wednesday, saying several contestants lied when they accused the former heavyweight champ of fondling them.

J. Morris Anderson said he also had ''second thoughts about participating in the crucifixion of a black role model.''

Anderson, who met with Tyson's attorneys and agreed to settle the suit, would not say whether any money was involved. Anderson called Tyson a ''serial buttocks fondler'' and accused him of molesting 10 of 23 contestants at the 1991 pageant in July.

Tyson still faces criminal charges of raping an 18-year-old contestant in his hotel room. The trial is set for Jan. 27 in Indianapolis.